February 1

From Collection to Community: A Hidden Miracle

As the gospel of Mark will continue to attest, almost without comment or commentary, Jesus was a source of miracles. There are the obvious miracles, such as the healings and the feedings. There are also the hidden miracles, the kind of miracles that give rise to the church, and give rise to congregations like Union Christian Church (DOC).

 One of Jesus’s “hidden” or “overlooked” miracles, is the miracle of taking a collection of people, lost people, and creating with them a community, a holy community. I think about some of the folks who hung around Jesus, and I wonder how in the world they could stand each other, or even put up with Jesus at times. Even so, through the gospels, the stories of Acts, and in the months and years to follow, they become “the church.” 

 Remember who these people are? We have Peter, hot and cold. One day he proclaims “You are the Messiah, the Son of God.” At the arrest in the garden, he draws his knife and maims a temple servant. Yet through the following night, he repeatedly denies knowing anything about Jesus. But at Pentecost, he again steps to the fore, proclaiming Jesus resurrected, for which he will eventually be martyred. I can imagine Peter vacillating between thinking Jesus is crazy some days, and too timid on others, depending on his mood. In addition we have James and John, the sons of Zebedee, angling to get Jesus to name them “next in command,” sitting at his right and left. I can only imagine how that went over with the others. Don’t forget Nicodemus, a high positioned community leader, court insider, muckity muck in the temple. He clearly thought Jesus was full of nonsense after their first conversation, and yet he sticks around. Jesus is surrounded by a collection of religious purists and segregationist, wanting to withdraw to their own isolated communities, accommodationists wanting to make the best of things and please the ruling Romans, zealot revolutionaries wanting to free Judah and reconquer Israel, and so many folks just trying to make it day to day. Somehow, out of this odd, rough collection of people, through Jesus, a community comes into being. From this collection/community unlikely leaders emerge.

How in the world could that have happened? It seems impossible. It is nothing less than a miracle. I believe it can only have happened because somewhere along the way, through Jesus, this collection of people learned to listen to God and to listen to one another. I think they learned to listen, in particular, to those they would like to dismiss and those they disagreed with.

As I think about my own Christian journey and the church leaders who have influenced my life, nothing seems to have changed. The ministers that regularly roam through my thought include several Disciples, some Southern Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans, and Presbyterians for starters. Some are famous and others unknown. Somewhere among them are folks who have never strayed, others who left the church and eventually came back, some who are theologically and politically liberal and conservative, men, women, white, people of color, northern and southern, western and eastern. Some are word wizards and have held high positions, some are tattooed and foul-mouthed. They include grandparents and young single parents. Some have always been in ministry. One went to a military academy and another spent years as an electrician. A couple have lived rather charmed lives. Others have experienced abuse from strangers or family. Some are teetotalers and others are addicts in recovery. They are an odd, rough collection. But they are more than that. They are a community, God’s community, our community, whether we ever get to meet all of them or not. Sometimes you can see it the moment they walk in the door, and sometimes you have to sit with them for several hours. Either way, they all have something to offer us as the church, they all have something to offer this congregation on Union Church Road. If they ever get to meet you personally, you have something to offer them as well. 

That is the miracle. Continually creating community out of a motley collection. That is the miracle, continuing to open ourselves to listen to one another, and embrace one another, whether we seem familiar or strange. That is the miracle, committing to grow in relationship with old friends and with neighbors we have yet to meet. May Union Christian Church strive to continue to be one of Jesus’ “hidden” miracles.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Alan

January 27

Real Authority

This week’s scripture reading finds Jesus teaching with authority in the synagogue and casting out an unclean spirit. I remember those years when the kids played community sports. There is the season I got roped into coaching a team, even though I knew I was not well suited to the task. I was right. I remember the many other seasons of sitting in “the stands,” encouraging our children and our team. I remember the sometimes confused faces of players when their parents' instructions contradicted those of the coach. It would cause distraction that detracted from the teams performance. The kids would eventually respond to the coach. The coach was the real authority here, and the team is the community I am responsible to here. Kids understand, whether they could explain it or not.

It’s not a bad analogy for our relationship to Jesus. It’s not a bad analogy for our relationship to the church. But there is more to “coaching,” more to “learning the game,” than any one particular moment or play. Coaching includes things like teaching and reinforcing the rules, developing a style or philosophy of game play that fits the skills and personality of the team, and setting priorities that extend beyond a single game or practice. Are we here the develop our skills? To have fun? To learn teamwork? To win? Well, all of them, but what is our overarching, guiding priority for gathering and playing together?

In theology, we call that overarching, guiding priority(s) a hermeneutic. I often find myself reaching in my back pocket for a hermeneutic in exciting moments like the one in today’s scripture. That hermeneutic will help me keep my head in the game in those moments of excitement or distraction, whether positive or negative. You have heard my hermeneutic more than once: Our God is a God of infinite love, healing grace and radical hospitality. That is the kind of people are called to be in God’s world.

Take a moment this week, and think about your own hermeneutic.

Personally, what does it mean to be a Christian? What kind of person does your faith call you to be?

As a congregation, what does it mean to be Christian? What kind of community are we called to be? Regularly reflecting on these questions, will help us recognize and respond to the real authority of Jesus, in moments exciting and mundane alike.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Alan

January 20

Repent!

Repent! It’s the heart of the message of John the Baptist, arrested as the passage from Mark begins. It’s the first command of Jesus’ preaching as he bursts upon the stage in Galilee. You can find it in Paul’s advice to the church at Corinth. It’s the collective response of the people of Nineveh as they hear Jonah’s reluctant proclamation in the streets of their city. The lectionary readings for this Sunday are filled with repentance.

The repentance we find in these passages is not a call or a response to a "turn or burn" message or theology. Jonah has spent his whole book angry at God, because he knows God is merciful. Jesus' call to "repent" is preceded by his declaration that "the kingdom of God has come near," and followed by his urging to "believe in the Good News!" It is a moment of praise, not condemnation.

It is an invitation to a willing and intentional change of mind, and heart, and life; whether as an individual or a community. It is a proclamation of a better path than the one being traveled. It is an affirmation that we are not our worst acts, but could be our highest hopes. It is an assertion that those around us will not surrender to our deepest suspicions, but more likely outdo what we might expect of ourselves.

Jesus’ call to repentance is a direct result of “the time” being fulfilled and the reign of God drawing near. Jesus is calling his listeners to recognize the divine presence of God, and to believe in it enough to live a different, better life. In the case of four fishermen, the call to repentance is framed as a call to follow, a call to trade fish-fishing for people-fishing, a kind of turning toward God and all of God's children rather than away from either.

We have been invited with a kingdom announcement and a repentance call. Are we ready to respond anew? Are we ready to respond even more fully this time around? Are we ready to hear and respond to this Good News today?

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Alan

Sunday Readings
Jonah 3:1-5, 10
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
Mark 1:14-20

January 13

Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself

Once upon a time, as a college chaplain intern, a student named Robert came to me wanting to set up a "coffee house" event where where we could talk about faith, especially with his non-christian brothers and sisters. I wasn't immediately sure how to respond. I knew his interest in and love of his fellow students was real. His desire to share was sincere. But I also had a concern that he hadn't thought about how to listen, as well as speak. The next time we met, I found a moment to ask him how he would feel if "Sheila" invited him to a talk so that she could work on converting him to Buddhism. Then we talked about what it would be like to have a "Cafe Conversation," where students could discuss questions from the perspective of their various faiths, philosophies and personal experiences with one another. As the possibilities of this format sunk in, Robert got excited about the better opportunity to listen and learn, as well as teach and share. These principles hold in conversations around faith and also in the public square.

As children of God, as followers of Christ, we are called to love one another. It is not a call to be silent or even meek when we have a deep concern about our neighbor, our community or ourselves. It is a call to speak, and listen, and act with love. I am concerned that we are struggling as a society, to practice the holy discipline of listening generously. To take a moment (or several) to consider the experience of others, especially those with whom we have intense disagreements, is to live out a key element of Christian mission. Union Christian Church (DOC) has developed a well-tuned "holy listening ear." I wonder how we can share that "ear" with our community, our society.

As Robert and I talked, our goal was not diminish his voice, but to provide space for his brothers and sisters to speak as well. The goal was to provide space to hear as well as speak.

We are called to bear witness. We are called to share with one another our deeply held convictions. Pausing before we speak to consider our words is a vital, holy act of love toward neighbor and God. Listening and acknowledging, recognizing the truth in what is said by our brothers and sisters, even when we deeply disagree, is a vital, holy act of love toward neighbor and God. We are called to love our brothers and sisters in faith. We are called to love our brothers and sisters in the public square. Go forth, people of God, sharing Christ's love as you speak, listen, and act in our community and God's world.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Alan

January 6

Holy, Chaotic Waters of Life - Mark 1:4-11

The author of Mark is an "economic" writer. He doesn't waste words.
There is enough going on in the relatively few verses we share this week to make you head spin and ask what just happened. It does this while painting a rich, detailed picture.

The rich detail shows us the down to earth nature of the gospel. We can see and hear and feel this world, our world that Jesus has stepped into. We can smell the water and feel the scratchy clothes. We can hear the crowds and taste the bugs. We are startled, maybe even paralyzed by the tearing sky. This world is real, tactile, fleshy. There is no mistaking that it is ours.

It is into this wilderness of our own chaotic lives that John arrives proclaiming hope and possibility. It is into our personal and communal brokenness that the Spirit erupts in Jesus' presence.

Something has happened, the kind of thing not seen since the bursting forth of creation, or the deliverance of the people from Pharaoh.

I wonder if baptism, being immersed into the waters of creation, is not so much about getting out of this world and into the next. I wonder if sinking into and re-emerging from the water of life is more about remembering and proclaiming the life-creating, ever-healing, always-giving holy presence in the world today. Maybe, this week, we are being reminded to recognize and offer God's eternal life among us and around us here and now.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Alan

December 23

Holiday Cheer and Eternal Hope

In Sunday's sermon I mentioned an old acquaintance, Andy Offutt Irwin of Covington. I met Andy while I was working as a chaplain intern at Oxford College of Emory University. He was the artist in residence and universal big brother to the students at Oxford.

Among the many things he does, he is an award winning story teller. He centers his stories in Morgan County (Madison) Georgia, which makes them a particular delight. While being deeply rooted, his characters fully delight in their current day to day. Their stories keep an eternally hopeful eye open to what the future is bringing and how they (we) may fit in it.

So, for the next couple of weeks, I commend the work of Andy Offutt Irwin to you. When you need a break from Christmas Music, try a couple of Andy's stories from Spotify: The Truth About Santa & the Reindeer, or Marguerite's Christmas.

He is as entertaining to look at as to listen to, so head on over to his website: Videos | Andy Offutt Irwin (andyirwin.com) Don't forget to visit the gift shop.

Whether you are in the mood for some light diversion, or heartwarming storytelling, may I introduce, Andy Offutt Irwin.

Merry Christmas friends and neighbors!
Pastor Alan

December 16

Dear Church,

December is the time of the year that we are invited to give to the Christmas Special Offering of the Christian Church (DOC). The offering is an above and beyond giving opportunity that supports the mission and ministry of the Disciples of Christ in Georgia. Our region supports our congregation and other in so many ways: Camp Christian, the annual youth meeting at Epworth, Disciples Men and Women’s Fellowship ministries, congregational Search and Call support, and much more. Particularly impactful ministries of the Christian Church in Georgia are the new church and ministry initiatives in Warner-Robbins and Savannah, proclaiming the Gospel of God’s love, grace, and hospitality throughout the state of Georgia and the ongoing work of reconciliation among God’s people here and throughout God’s world. As you can see, the Christmas Offering allows the congregations that make up the Georgia Region to accomplish great things that we would be unable to do as individual congregations.

Please consider giving to this special Christmas Offering. You may give to the Christmas Offering and all ministries of Union Christian Church here: Union Christian Church Giving, by selecting General Fund, Memorial Gifts, Christmas Special Offering, Benevolence Fund, Building Fund, etc. Please feel free to contact the church office if you have any questions about ministry and giving opportunities through Union Christian Church (DOC).

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Alan

December 9

Gaudete Sunday (Yep, it’s Latin)

This week is the Third Sunday in Advent. We know it as “Joy Sunday” with the pink candle in the Advent Wreath, and that is exactly right. Gaudete is Latin for “rejoice.” Advent was originally a forty day fasting season (like Lent) leading up to the Christmas Feast and in preparation for Christ’s return. The Mass for this Sunday begins with these words. “Gaudete in Domino semper,” or “Rejoice in the Lord always.” These words begin the reading from Philippians 4:4-7.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

"Rejoice Sunday” is a moment to remember that the Lord is indeed near. It was a welcome intrusion of joy in the penitential season leading up to Christmas. This Sunday, we will join the shepherds in experiencing the joyous and overwhelming “multitude of heavenly hosts, praising God.” It is a welcome intrusion indeed as we continue to experience the current disruption in our individual and communal lives. May we join the heavenly host in its song, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” Remember, that the Lord is near indeed!

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Alan

December 2

Hello Church,

December has arrived! Advent has begun! We have begun our preparation for the arrival of Jesus! Greens are hung, and will be here each Sunday despite the wind's best efforts. We will continue to "present" the Advent Wreath and Candles each week, though they may not actually be lit this year. Last week, we shared the Advent Candle representing Hope. Our Advent Hopes are always a mixture of the abstract and the concrete. We often find ourselves wondering how to best make "peace on earth and good will toward men (or creation)" tangible in our community and world this year. This year our list of specific hopes are a bit longer and more urgent than last year.

This Sunday we will share the Candle of Love. In a time when we must be so cautious about our interactions with our neighbors, we find ourselves asking anew "How can I best love my neighbor today?" We know it can't look exactly like last year.

We may find ourselves feeling our need for prayer more deeply than we normally do. I am praying. Today I am praying for the town where I grew up, and for a couple of particular families who were so much a part of my life then. When I was in elementary school, Mrs. Thomas watched me many a day after school. Both of her sons were in my dad's ag. classes and worked for us on the farm. They are still close neighbors today. You may remember me writing about our hay hauling partners, the Yoder family, a few weeks ago. This weekend I received word from my dad that Mrs. Thomas and Mrs. Yoder died last week as a part of the COVID-19 pandemic. Like so many others, I am not sure how to express my sadness, especially for the many friends and family that surround them even now. And so I ask that you pray.

Offer prayers of healing, for all of those among us and around us caring for neighbors and loved ones, and for those who are missing neighbors and loved ones. Offer prayers of love in word and deed, remembering our neighbors and living always for one another more than we do for ourselves. Offer prayers of Hope, that next Advent will be different, that Christ will seem even closer, that we may more actively make the Kingdom of Heaven visible on earth. For Christ has come, indeed. Christ will indeed come again. May we continue to shine our lights until then.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Alan

November 25

A Week to Give Thanks!

What a week! I am completing a week long Zoom based training event that began last Wednesday. Nickie is trying to wrap up our regular office and worship needs in a very short week. You have been "delivering" Thanksgiving meals this week. At the same time we are stepping into Advent, being asked to prepare for the coming of Jesus without a moment to catch our breath. Didn't Matthew just tell us a story about that? And we are doing all of this in a moment that is anything but normal.

So, brothers and sisters, we must take some time later this week, perhaps Thursday, to give thanks. Whatever your Thanksgiving is going to look like this year, I pray you are able to pause, lift your eyes to the heavens, lift your voice to God, and truly give thanks. Perhaps it is thanks for gifts received that are now the foundation for life giving memories, likely along with a teardrop. Perhaps it is thanks for new gifts coming into being right now. Perhaps it is thanks for the small, daily accumulating gifts that become easy to ignore in their routine. Whatever gifts seem most concrete and reassuring this week, lift them high and share them widely with God and those you are gathering with, however you are gathering.

As the church we are called to be a people of gratitude, sharing generously because we have received generously. May God's generosity fill your Thanksgiving this week.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Alan

November 18

Good morning church,

Our reading this week is Matthew 25:31-46. It is the closing scene in Jesus’ final discourse in the Gospel of Matthew, the Judgment Discourse. This passage is unique to Matthew. It is not a parable, but an “apocalyptic vision” like much of the Revelation to John. The message of this passage, is that when we respond to human need, or fail to do so, we are in fact responding to Christ, or failing to do so.

If someone were to ask me to “define God” in some way, I would say that “God is a God of Infinite Love, Healing Grace, and Radical Hospitality.” I know I repeat those words and phrases in a variety of ways so that folks can hear them coming, and may get tired of hearing them. I say them because doing so helps to keep me pointed in the right direction. If I remember correctly, that “bumper sticker statement” coalesced for me while discussing this passage in a lectionary group one day. It is easy to see the connection. This passage depicts actions for us that are filled with love, healing, and welcome.

Matthew’s gospel moves from this passage into the Passion Narrative. It is the last “teaching” Jesus offers to his followers.

As we approach our Thanksgiving Holiday, and move directly from there into the season of Advent where we prepare for the arrival of Jesus, how do we receive and respond to this last teaching offered to us by Jesus?

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Alan

November 11

Hello Church,

Over the next 2 weeks in worship, we will share the rest of Matthew 25. This week we read the parable of the talents, and on November 22, the judgment of the nations. Chapters 23-25 of Matthew's Gospel encompass the last of the 5 Discourses (speeches, sermons) in the Gospel. Matthew is structured around these 5 Discourses. As you might have picked up from last Sunday's Scripture, this last one is the Judgment Discourse, concluding with the three readings from chapter 25. They are the parable of the bridesmaids, the parable of the talents, and the judgment of the nations.

Each of them attempts to offer encouragement and insight to the church community about how live faithfully, and in continual preparation for the fulfillment of God's Kingdom. You might say that means living as if God's Kingdom is already here. 1) Use holy and healthy disciplines to keep your spirit nurtured, keep your lamp filled with oil. 2) Take the risk of sharing God's abundance and life so that God's kingdom may grow and flourish. 3) Pay particular attention to the needs of the world around us, for Christ will certainly be there waiting.

These are parables of judgment. There are consequences for not heeding these words. But they are not shared to illicit fear. This week, acting out of fear will bring judgment in our story. These parables are also shared as a call. They are a call to continue to living a life of authentic faith rooted in the example and teachings of Jesus, a life devoted to deeds of justice and mercy, a life always joyfully ready and preparing for the full completion of God's loving kingdom. May God's Kingdom be seen and felt among us and through us, here and now! Well done, good and faithful servant!

Pastor Alan

November 4

Hello Church,
I want to thank you for the warm welcome I have received here at Union Christian Church (DOC). Being together this Sunday for worship was a truly wonderful. Although it is not ideal, and although it requires a bit of extra work, there is a unique joy in gathering for worship together outside. I am grateful for the space, the energy, and the inspiration to do so. This last week we remembered All Saints' Day together. Thank you for sharing the names of some of those who have shaped your life and faith. If you haven't been able to do so yet, it is not too late. I would love to hear about those who have shaped you, including a sentence or two about how. Being out in the field together for worship reminds me of some of the saints of my youth, family friends, and neighbors.

For many years while I was growing up, my family grew alfalfa. We grew and cut the hay. Our Mennonite neighbors, the Yoders, baled the hay. And we all hauled it to the barn together. Although we had radically different social and church practices, and sometimes contradictory theological views, we were extremely close. One of the things I learned from the Yoders was the meaning of hospitality. There was never a word spoken about it, it just soaked in. I got to witness in our work together, and in our exchanging invitations to share community events together, the kind of radical, wide open hospitality God calls us to. "Welcome neighbor, come on in. We'll treat you like part of the family, no requirements, no expectations. We'll take care of you, and enjoy having you with us."

I believe I see that same kind of hospitality here in the Union community. I see more than a desire to share your story. I see a desire to hear, listen to, and perhaps even experience and embrace the sometimes dramatically different stories of our Union neighbors. May we continue to strive to open our space and our hearts to our neighbors. May we continue to summon the courage to walk our neighbor's paths with them, even when they seem unrecognizable to us. That, I believe, is God's radical hospitality.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Alan

October 28

One of the joys of beginning ministry with a congregation is getting to know the people, history and traditions of a community. I have come to think of it as an introductory congregational course, "Union CC 101" if you will.

This Sunday we will be celebrating All Saints' Day. We will remember those from our congregation who have died in the last year, and now gather as a part of God's Heavenly Host. It is a good time for us to remember all of those who have shaped and are shaping our faith, and our congregation in years past and today. As I get to know Union, I will ask you to share some stories with me.

So, today, would you take a moment to share a story, or even just a name, of a Union saint, past or present? How have they helped you see God among us? How have they shaped your faith? How have they helped Union be more fully the church, a communion of saints here and now?  
 
It might be a personal story, or it might be a story that is a part of Union's history. Send it in an email, or ask me to call so I can hear it "in person." I am excited to begin learning about Union Christian Church.
 
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Alan

Union Welcomes Rev. Alan Cloar as Interim Minister

Union’s Search and Call Committee recommended Rev. Alan Cloar to the Church Council as Union’s Interim Minister at a recent called meeting, and the Church Council unanimously approved the recommendation. Rev. Cloar is in the process of closing an interim ministry in Atlanta. He is available to us now if there is a pastoral emergency. We are working with him to develop a plan to integrate him into our Union family in advance of his first Sunday in the pulpit in early November.

Rev. Alan Cloar is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).  Alan grew up on a family farm in Paris, Tennessee. He graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1992, and Candler School of Theology in Atlanta in 1999. He has served congregations in Associate, Solo, and Senior Minister roles. Alan has also served as a Campus Minister. He most recently served as Transitional Minister at Peachtree Corners Christian Church in Norcross.
 
Alan lives in Winder, Georgia, with his wife Cheryl (Minister of First Christian Church in Winder). Their daughter, Lee, and son, Timothy, are both students at the University of Georgia. Alan is very proud of his children, but still adjusting to being a UGA Dad.  

Alan believes our identity as Christians is grounded in gratitude to God for the blessing of God's creation, and our life as a part of it. Our call as the Body of Christ is to remember and share God's Infinite Love, Healing Grace, and Radical Hospitality, always and everywhere.  

August 18

After much discussion and in consultation with Dr. Peter Cook, the Re-gathering Committee will recommend to the Council during its Thursday meeting to begin outdoor worship starting September 6, 2020. Peter has advised us on guidelines to make this as safe of an experience as possible for all involved. However, if you are not yet comfortable returning to church under any conditions, the service will be recorded and posted to both Facebook and our church website.

We expect to meet either near the pavilion or church’s front porch. We anticipate the length of the service will be around 30 minutes. The service will be early morning to avoid mid-day high temperature. You will have the option of bringing a lawn chair and sitting socially distanced from other congregants with facial masks or remaining inside your car. We will have the capability to transmit audio of the service through your car radio or a portable FM radio. 

The final details are still in the works. When the plans are finalized, we will provide a full list of safeguards and instructions.   

August 2

This is the last blog post of my ministry with you over these past six-plus years, I’ve known this time was coming, but now that it is here, it is difficult to write. Serving God alongside you has been the greatest joy of my life. As I look back over our time together, I’m reminded of many new ministries, mission opportunities, and facility improvements. I know I will miss some, but let’s take a walk down memory lane.

New ministries – Women’s Bible studies, Lenten Bible studies, Fall Family Fun Night, Living Last Supper, Holy Week Labyrinth, Advent piano concert

Mission opportunities – Sparrows Nest, ACTS, Family Promise, Puerto Rico mission trip

Facility Improvements – Playground, new directional signs, renovated youth space, renovated back hallway, classrooms, and offices, upgraded computer systems

In closing, I would like to re-share some words that I wrote for our yearly booklet….

Soon after the new year began, several things occurred that changed our church family. On March 6, I shared the news with you that I would be retiring on August 2. Less than a week later, we entered into months of quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and as of the writing of this pastoral letter we are still not meeting in our building. Like churches all over the world, we had to “stop on a dime” and re-create worship, Bible studies, fellowship, and community ministry. The first few weeks felt like we were drowning as we learned new ways to connect with each other without a building. But over time, we have moved into a new rhythm that includes Zoom committee meetings, friends checking on friends, driveway visits, and online worship Each one of you has ministered to each other in new ways, and I am so grateful to be walking this journey with you.

As I prepare to leave, I want you all to know what a joy and privilege it has been to serve as your pastor. I have been blessed to be just a small part of the history of Union Christian Church and look forward with anticipation for what the future holds for you all.

As I close this time together, let me offer the benediction that I speak each Sunday. It is my prayer for you.

Christ go before you to prepare a way of service.
Christ go behind you to gather up your efforts for his glory.
Christ go beside you as leader and guide.
Christ go within you as comfort and stay.
Christ go beneath you to uphold with everlasting arms.
Christ go above you to reign as Lord supreme.

With all my love and prayers for the future,

Pastor Jane

July 29

This Sunday we move beyond a sermon series to a selection of what I like to call “stand alone sermons.” Although they are not in a series, each will speak to some of the challenges that face each one of us at different times in our lives. This Sunday, I will begin with the Old Testament story of Jacob wrestling with God. Found in Genesis 32:22-31, it is an exciting and very personal story of how Jacob struggled with God in order to receive a blessing. Perhaps you have found yourself in the same situation – seemingly fighting with God to bless you.
 
We often say, “God bless you” when someone near us sneezes. If you were to search on Google for the phrase “God blessed me,” you would find thousands of t shirts, coffee mugs, cute pictures and posters, jewelry, and the list goes on and on. But is there more to “God blessed me” than kitschy objects? Let’s dive deeply into this story on Sunday and see if we might receive some new insights into what it means to be blessed by God.

 - Pastor Jane 

June 22

This Sunday, we come to the end of our sermon series on The First Things. We have walked through two months of teachings from scripture that contain what I understand as the first things of faith. This week we conclude with a beautiful look at heaven, attempting to answer two of the most asked questions - what is heaven, and where is heaven. We will focus our thoughts on the familiar verses found at the beginning of Revelation 21.
 
As we begin to think about heaven, let me share with you a beautiful quote from New Testament scholar, William Barclay.
 
"For the Christian, heaven is where Jesus is. We do not need to speculate on what heaven will be like. It is enough to know that we will be forever with Him."
 
This Sunday I will be filming from a new location. We are moving this week, so I will great you from our back porch, overlooking the trees. I look forward to seeing you then. 
 
 - Pastor Jane 

July 15

During the 1950s-1990s, when radio was still at its peak, there was an on-air voice that was instantly recognizable. If you were flipping channels and heard the words, “stand by, for news,” or his closing, “Good Day,” in that lilting brogue, you knew Paul Harvey was on the air. During those years, Paul Harvey’s radio program reached as many as 24 million people a week, and was carried on 1200 different radio stations.  His daily News and Commentary program was known by many, but it was the unique show, The Rest of the Story, that seemed to catch the fancy of the nation.  It premiered in 1976 and ran for 33 years, until his death in 2009.  33 years – six broadcasts a week. 
 
What exactly was, The Rest of the Story?  It was a fascinating study – a mix of mystery and history – using stories and news items that were well known, but the added twist was always an addition to the story, something that previously had been unknown to the public – The Rest of the Story.  As you would expect, Paul Harvey told the known story, gave a hint of what was to come, went to commercial (you would expect that), and then, finally, back on the air with The Rest of the Story.
 
This Sunday we will experience Jesus’ The Rest of the Story, as told through the eyes of two of the gospel writers, Luke and Matthew. In Luke 4:16-20 Jesus preaches his first sermon in his hometown synagogue in Nazareth. Matthew 28:16-20 conveys to us Jesus’ final words – the Rest of the Story. What do Jesus’ first things – spoken from his synagogue, and his last things – spoken from a mountain – teach us about how we, as Christ followers, are to join God on mission in the world? Let’s talk about it on Sunday.

 - Pastor Jane